A kind and caring girl who “always thinks of others” has been recognised by her loving big sister.
Joanna Steel, 20, was nominated for the Wishaw Press' 'Say It With Flowers' competition by her sister, Kimberly.
Joanna, from New Stevenson in Motherwell, had several health complications as a young child and was born with the bones fusing in her head as a baby, which resulted in her having to undergo an operation in Glasgow’s Yorkhill Hospital.
Then at the age of two she contracted meningitis which she recovered from and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was nine.
But despite her early health challenges she always thinks of others before herself. She attended Brannock High School in Motherwell, but later moved to Bellshill Academy after being bullied.
However, this did not deter her from taking up a job in the caring profession and after leaving school she began working as a home carer for people with learning disabilities in Wishaw, where she has remained for the past two years.
Kimberly said: “My wee sister Joanna was born with her bones fusing in her head and had to have a head operation when she was just a baby in Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.
“Then she was diagnosed with meningitis when she was only two-years-old, and when she was nine she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, but she is now quite health despite the health complications that she has had in the past.
“She has had a very tough time in her early years, but she has taken everything in her stride and she is such a determined person.
“She very caring and despite everything that has happened to her, it has made her a much stronger person.
“She has worked throughout the pandemic and she is extremely dedicated and really loves what she does.”
And when Kimberly told us about Joanna, we were thrilled to help out, with niece Ava on had to surprise her aunt with these beautiful flowers, courtesy of our friends at Pixies Petals.
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